§ 23. Amendment of law
§ Motion made and Question proposed:
§ "That it is expedient to amend the law with respect to the National Debt and the public revenue, and to make further provision in connection with finance, so, however, that this 90 Resolution shall not extend to the making of amendments of the law relating to purchase tax except amendments, if any, reducing the first, second or third rate of the tax generally for all goods to which the rate applies."—[Sir S. Gripps.]
§ 5.58 p.m.
§ Mr. Eden (Warwick and Leamington)As the Chancellor remarked at the opening of his survey, for the last three years we have pursued this practice of discussing in one and the same Debate, both the Economic Survey and the opening of the Budget for the year. I am inclined to think that that has certain quite definite advantages from the point of view both of the Government and of the Opposition; but it also has certain physical disadvantages. The Chancellor speaks—and I make no complaint in view of all the ground he had to cover—for something like 2i hours, after which the Committee's—I will not say capacity or intelligence, because I am sure that is unlimited in time or strength, but at any rate the Committee's desire to listen to prolonged arguments is somewhat exhausted. After consultation with my colleagues, I think it will be our wiser course this afternoon to consider what the Chancellor has had to say and to make our considered comments upon it in the next day or two.
I want to make only two observations now. The first is that we would give a general welcome to the reduction of taxation on overtime, a welcome none the less sincere because we have advocated it ourselves. We also agree that that can be regarded not only as assistance to the individuals themselves but as assistance to industry. Therefore, it is to be welcomed. The other preliminary observation I want to make is that we are glad that the Chancellor has not repeated last year's complete exclusion of the Purchase Tax from our discussions. As I understand it, there is not even a partial exclusion—U-10N. MEMBERS "There is."1 If there is it is a partial exclusion which we hope will not unduly handicap us in our discussions. That matter can be further probed in due course.
I conclude by saying to the Chancellor what he knows, that his performance was of a lucidity which we always associate with him. If what he had to tell us was less to our taste, it certainly lacked nothing in the manner in which he presented it.
§ Ordered: "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—[Mr. Pearson.]
§ Resolutions to be reported Tomorrow; Committee also report Progress; to sit again Tomorrow.